Twenty Seven Top Tips for Video Job Interviews & Sales Presentations, Part 2

In our previous post we presented thirteen tips for effective video interviews and meetings, covering the areas of Your Equipment and Your Setting (click here to view Part 1). Here are the remaining fourteen tips.

Your Attire

Ever since the first televised US presidential debate in 1960, people have paid attention to the attire of someone being interviewed on camera. You need to dress to impress and to help you feel confident. Wear the same type of clothing as you would to an interview with the following modifications:

• Wear solid but not bright colors. Any type of pattern will create an unintended and highly distracting illusion of motion. That is why TV broadcasters stay away from stripes and patterns in their attire.
• Avoid reds and other hot colors that will cause distortion.
• Stay away from white as it tends to create a glare or harshness. Substitute soft colors, such as light blue. A softer weave jacket or blazer is better as it is less likely to be shiny on camera.
• Dress fully. Don’t assume that you’ll be seated throughout the interview. Wearing a business professional top will be undone with shorts and no socks should you need to stand up during your interview.
• What you wear should contrast nicely from the background you plan on using.
• Wash your face to remove the shine, comb your hair, and shave (if male.) Lightly apply some anti-shine makeup – male or female! Yes, male or female. Video tends to amplify the natural glare from skin.
• Men should be freshly shaved so that a five o’clock shadow is not visible (which has the effect of making someone look less trustworthy on camera).
• If you wear glasses, use anti-glare lenses so that others can clearly see your eyes. Otherwise the reflection from your glasses will block any view of your eyes. Alternatively, remove your glasses.

Your Posture and Body Language

• Sit up straight in a hard chair. Although it may be a bit uncomfortable, it will assure that your posture suggests energy, alertness, and confidence.
• Avoid excessive hand motions. Speak naturally using appropriate hand movements. Don’t sit there stiffly with hands folded like you are in an interrogation.
• Smile often. A smile translates well on camera. Your face should be expressive when speaking. Show a positive energy level!
• Maintain eye contact with the camera without staring. Visualize the camera as a person whom you are happy to see.
• Avoid fidgeting. That includes shaking your leg, playing with something in your hands, playing with your hair, and other obvious fidgeting habits.
• It may be helpful to post these best practices on a sign in the same field of vision as the camera in order to remind you of these best practices during your interview.

Bottom line: you want your on-camera performance to lead to a job offer or sale. Follow these tips to project the confidence and trust that make employers and customers want to invest in you and what you offer.

The above was excerpted from the 5th Edition of the Job Search Readiness Assessment Development Guide, which explains more than 2,100 job search best practices.